Circuit maker and breaker



Oct. 27, 1931. F. E. STOVER CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Filed June 10,

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CIRCUIT v MAKER AND BREAKER} Application, filed June t,

vices of this kind which are thermostatically controlled. I

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a circuit maker and breaker which will be simple in, construction and effective in operation. I r

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement by which the contact )oints are positively opened and closed y thermostatically controlled mechanical means operated by a continuously moving part. 7

Further objects will appear from the accompanying description and claims.

. In the accom )anymg drawings:

Fig. l is a si e elevation of a circuit maker and breaker embod ing my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a front e ovation of. the same.

Fig; 3 is a top lan view of the same.

Fig. iis an en arged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. p

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the continuously movable operating member.

The invention has been devised articularly to control the temperature of ncubators, although it is not'necessarily limited to that particular purpose. In incubators of the so-called mammoth type, it is ,usualto employ a fan to induce a forced draft of air through the incubators, the fan being continuously operated from any suitable source of power. In one type of incubator, an electric heater is employed to heat the air which f is circulated through the incubator by the fan, the temperature of the air being controlled by a thermostat which opens and closes the circuit of the heater at suitable intervals. In carryin out my invention, I make use of the continuously rotating fan shaft as the member which operates the contact opening and closing means, although it is to be understood that any other suitable continuously movable member may be emplayed it desired. Such a shaft is indicated at it and it is sufiicient to say that the shaft is continuously rotated while the incubator me. Serial Ito/scares.

is in operation from. any suitable source of ower.

The contacts to be opened and closed are indicated at 2 and 3 and in the present case the contact Qis movable and the contact 3 stationary. The contact 2 is secured to a block 4 of insulating material which is carried by a bifurcated metallic arm, the parts I of which are indicated at 5, which is pivotally mounted on screws 6, inserted. in a frame which carries at its upper portion another insulating bloclr 'i'to which the stationary contact 3 issecured. The circuit is made when the movable switch arm is swung to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 and the arm will be held in either on or oil position by the action of the coiled spring 8, one end of which is hooked to a cross pin 9- carried by the upper endof the arm and at its lower end hooked to a bar 10 carried by a downward extension of the frame.

A fiat lever 11 is pivotally ban from the rod 13 and has its lower end provi ed with a fork, the tines 12 and 12 of which are offset and straddle the shaft 1; the pivoted end of "the lever being confined against axial movement on the rod 13 by a pair of collars 1d.

'The rod 13 is carried by a ring 15 which is cars 17' of the. bracket. These trunnions are at right angles to the axis of the rod 13 and allow the lever to swing to and fro in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft 1, while the pivoted connection of the lever with the rod 13 allows the lever to swing in a plane at right-angles to the axis of the shaft 1 the of feet being to-so support the lever 1i; that it may have a universal movement with respect to the shaft.

-The shaft 1 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 20 which is so positioned as to rotate in the space between the oifset tines 12 and 12 when the lever 11 is depending in the neutral position. It will be clear, therefore, that if the ring 15 is rocked on its trunnions to a suflicient degree, one or the other of the tines 12 and 12' will be brought in the path of the pin 20, engaged thereby at one point of its rotation, and the lever 11 swung in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft. The lever 11 has a connection with the moveable switch arm 5 by means of an extension 21 on the lever which terminates in a hook 22 which hangs over a cross bar 23 carried by the arm 5, so that when the lever 11 is rocked by the pin in either direction the switch arm 5 will be moved correspondingly to open or close the switch.

The ring 15 is rocked to effect this operation by the action of a thermostat T, shown in the present case as a thermostat of the wafer type, which is pivotally connected by a link 24 with a pivoted arm 25 which in turn is connected by a link 26 with the arm 13. The thermostat is placed at any suitable point where it will be responsive to the temperature of the air which is heated by the electric heater, shown in the present case as an ordinary resister R in the circuit controlled by the contacts.

The pin 20 is shown in an enlarged partial perspective View in Fig. 5. The outer extremity is formed in a manner to.insure engagement with the tines 12 or 12 at such times as when, during the swing of the lever 11, the tines are merely approaching the path of the pin 20. At each corner a projection 27 is formed by rounding of the portions between. These projections engage a shallow V-groove 28 recessed in similar positions in the tines 12 and 12, being, in each case, in the free end of the tine near the corner adjacent the path of the pin 20. As the shaft further revolves, the fiat end portion 20' engages the flat inner surface of either of the tines, and the lever 11 may therefore have some lateral movement, since the projections are not at this time engaged in the grooves 28. This is desirable, as it tends to prevent "ndue strains on the thermostat or the connections, which are normally in constant movement.

To insure a good contact, the stationary contact 3 is preferably arranged to yield against the tension of a coil spring 29 which is interposed between the said contact and head of a screw 30 inserted in the supporting bracket 7.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: I

1. In a circuit maker and breaker, a movable contact member, a continuously moving member, and intermediate connections between said contact member and continuously moving member for positively actuating said contact member to either open or closed position, together with thermostatic means forconnection between said continuously moving member and one of said contact members for positively actuating said contact member from said continuously moving member to either closed or open relation with said other contact member, and thermostatic means for placing said continuously moving member and said intermediate connection into operative relation with each other at predetermined changes in temperature.

3. In a circuit maker and breaker, a movable contact member, a continuously rotating member, movable intermediate connections between said members having a pair of ofl'set projections, and thermostatic means for placing either one of said ofi'set projections and said continuously-rotating member into operative relation with each other at predetermined changes in temperature.

4. In a circuit maker and breaker, a drovable contact member, a continuously rotating member, movable intermediate connections between said member having a pair of offset projections one on each side of the axis of rotation of said continuously rotating member and thermostatic means for alternately placing said continuously rotating member and one of said projections into operative relation with each other at predetermined changes in temperature.

5. In a circuit maker and breaker, a movable contact member, a continuously rotating member, a thermostatically controlled member for actuating said contact member having a pair of ofi'set projections one on each side of the axis of rotation of said rotating member, said thermostatically controlled member being movable in a plane parallel with the axis of rotation of said rotating member and also movable in a plane at right angles {33 the axis of rotation of said rotating mem- 6. In a circuit maker and breaker, a movable contact member, a continuously rotating projection, a thermostatically controlled member for actuating said contact member having offset portions arranged one on each side of the axis of rotation of said projection and movable in planes parallel with the axis of rotation of said projection to bring either 7. In a circuit maker and breaker, a movable contact member, a continuously rotating projection, a thermostatically controlled arm connected with said contact member, said arm having oiiset ortions arranged on either side of the axis rotation of's'aid projection, a

' at right-angles tothe axis of rotation 0 said projection, said support bein pivotally mounted to swing saic arm in a une parallel with the axis of rotation of said )rojection, and temperature responsive means or rocking said support. f

8. Ina circuit maker and breaker, a pivoted contact arm, a continuously rotatin pro'ection, an operating arm connected w t 1 said contact arm, apivoted sup ort to which said. operatin arm is ivotal y connected, the pivot for t e support eing such as to ermit said operating arm to swing in a (p ane Jarallel with .the axis of rotation of sai projection, the pivotal connection of said operating arm with said support being such as to permit'the 0 crating arm to swing in a lane at rightsang es to the axis of rotation 0 said projection, temperature responsive means connected with said support, and offset projectin portions on sai operating arm arrange on ogposite sides of the axis of retation of sai projection.

9. In a circuit maker and breaker, a pivoted ,contact arm like suplport axis at right-angles. to t e axis of rotation of said projection, an operating arm pivoted to said ring-like supportion an axis permitting the arm. to swing in a plane at rightangles to the axis of rotation of said pro e'c- 'tion, temperature responsive means connected with-said support to rock the same about its axis, and a pair of offset fingers connected with said operating arm and'straddling the axis of said projection;

i 10. In a circuit maker and breaker, a con-f tinuously rotating arm, the freeend of which sides thereof, a. thermostatica is channeled to form sharp prolections at the g liy controlled member having aipair of ofi'set ngers straddling the axis of rotation of said projection, each of said fingershaving a groove on that side thereof adjacent the pat of said arm havin a sharp side wall, for the purpose speci ed.

11. .In a circuit maker and breaker,- a single movable contactmember, a continuously rotating member, a movable intermediate memby operated by said continuously rotating member for actuating said contact member to either open or closed osition and ther mostatically controlled evices -or placing said rotating member and intermediate'membar into operative relation with each other to cause said intermediate member to be moved in eitherone direction or theother.

tween sai a continuously rotating pivoted on an the movement of said intermediate memv able contact member, a continuously moving member, a thermostat, an intermediate device adapted to form a connection between said continuously moving member and said contact member to actuate said contact membar to both 0 en and closed )osition, and means mechanically controlled y said thermostat for placing said continuously moving member and said intermediate device in operative relation with veach other at predetermined changes in temierature to cause W said contact member to ma e or break an electric circuit. a

13.- In a circuit maker and breaker, a movable contact member, a continuously rotat ing member, an expansible and contractihle thermostat an intermediate connection bed rotating member and contact member for positivel actuating said contact to open or closed )OSltlOfl, and devices mechanically operated ysaid thermostat to bring the rotat n member and the intermediate 'connectiohmto the same path at pre- 7 determined changes in temperature to cause the intermediate connection to be operated by said rotating member.

14. In a circuit maker and breaker, a contact member,a continuously moving member, an expansible and contractible thermostat ,an intermediate connection for positively actuating said contact member to open 7 or closed osition having a to and fro movement, and said. thermostat for briii ing said continuously rotating-member anc separate dortions of said intermediate connection into t 1e same path to cause said'rotating member to move devices mechanically actuated by l said connection in either one direction or the other to thereby actuate said contact member to open or closed position. I 15. In an electric switch, a movable ccntact member, a continuously rotatingjinember, means for moving said contact member by said continuously rotating member to either open or closed position to maintain thecircuit of which it is a part eitheropen or closed until said contact member is a ain operated, and thermostatic means; for p acing said continuously rotating member and said contact moving means in operative relation.. g r

16. In an electric switch, a pair of con-. tact members-for controlling the main electric circuit-adapted to maintain saidcircuiteither closed or openin accordance with temperature' conditions, one at least of said contacts being movable, a continuously rotating member, means actuated by said rotating staticallycontrolled means for placing said rotating member and contact operating means in operative relation.

17. In anelectric switch, a movable contact member; a continuously rotating member, means for moving said contact member by said continuously rotating member comprising a part located on each side of the axis of rotation'of said rotating member, and thermostatic means. for placing said continuously rotating member and said parts of said contact moving means alternately in operative relation.

1 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of May, 1929.

FRANK E. STOVER. 

